I feel that my experience at the 2005 PCMI was well worth the trip and the three weeks. I truly enjoy the math session from 8:20am - 11:00am everyday. I don't remember the last time I was able to sit down and do math for fun and learn new things; I am always writing lessons or correcting tests. I wanted to mention my learning lab group facilitated by Nicole Davis. This has been one of the most helpful professional development experiences in my career. We are able to watch some of the best teachers teaching math and then discuss what they did or did not do and how they ran their classrooms. I can't even describe all of the things I am learning during our learning lab time, I will use every bit of information that I have gathered from my group through out my career. Being in this learning lab has opened my eyes to the many different aspects of teaching and how I can become a better teacher by looking at teaching through many different lenses. I think that PCMI is an excellent program and I hope to come back and learn lots more.

--Meghan

Being a part of the Learning Lab Working Group, I was reminded that I am not the only teacher who struggles with effective classroom practices, curriculum and assessment. I was also reminded that these struggles do not go away unless they are worked through. Through observing teacher practice, I have gained a clearer understanding of what it means to “do math” and I’m excited to go home to my school and work with the other 7th grade teacher to construct a curriculum that reflects this. I loved the level of comfort that our group members have with each other (we’re a friendly bunch) and that has made my experience here. It has been nice to be able to bounce ideas off of each other to help better my teaching practice. I feel our discussions were not so much complaining about what is wrong, but discussing ways of improving our practice. I look forward to using our online group as a major resource during the school year and continuing dialogue with these hardworking and dedicated teachers!!! Thanks for the fun three weeks!

--Stephanie

Last year was my first summer at PCMI. The most important thing for me was that my PCMI experiences not end. My math explorations continued at UT Pan American and the teachers in the McAllen PD3 group have been a tremendous source of support.

Through this summer’s Learning Lab working group, I have met more teachers who are truly interested in teaching in ways that make mathematics accessible to all students. We have studied and discussed Deborah Ball’s work along with many other resources. (Special thanks to Nicole for all your hard work in setting this group up initially. It was the foundation for our success.) This work, and the discussions that followed, has helped me become much more aware of what teaching mathematics really means. We realized that 3 weeks would not be nearly enough time to consider all the topics we wanted to explore and so we are creating a web site that will allow us to continue learning together electronically. Working with the teachers in this group has been a real privilege. Their commitment to learning and to the learning of their students is evident every time we meet. I look forward to our continued discussions in the coming year.

--Cheryl

This summer's experience in the PCMI Learning Lab group was one of the best professional experiences I have ever had. The model of working with a small, motivated group of teachers, looking at the practice of teaching in light of current research, and together, examining lessons made me think deeper about my teaching practice. At the end of the PCMI summer program, many in the program regret having to leave the rich, professional envirnment created these three weeks. Our project of creating and maintaning an electronic community will extend our experience and hopefully do the same for others.

--Mark

This was my second year at PCMI and this working group was fantastic. Our group was small, with seven members plus our leader, which I liked. We did not get a regular room to meet in since we were the smallest group, but we adapted.  I would have rather had a place where we had tables; I think it’s easier to write on tables than writing in my lap. I thoroughly enjoyed our discussions and work together. We discussed teaching, a common vocabulary, lessons, teaching practices, and students; all under the umbrella known as “the mathematics knowledge needed to teach.”

I liked watching the various videos of other teachers and discussing what happened in terms of teaching practices, status of students, and many other things. I especially enjoyed watching the lab class of Deborah Ball and the new fifth grade students. I’m looking forward to staying in contact with my group members throughout the coming school year.

--Lynda

Being part of the 2004-2005 PCMI Learning Lab gave me the opportunity to gain an invaluable amount of practical, research-based information that will serve as a future resource in my continued career as a middle school 6^th grade mathematics teacher. The hours spent with colleagues who shared a common interest in improving our teaching practices became a platform for discussions that enabled us to analyze and evaluate our individual teaching practices through lenses such as status, mathematical knowledge, classroom norms, etc. One of my favorite lenses was “status” because it made me aware of how important it is that, as I teach, I ensure that all students be involved and valued.  I was also able to apply these lenses during our visit to Deborah Ball’s Math Lesson done with students from the Park City area. Overall my experience in our Learning Lab was positive and enlightening, refreshing and encouraging. Everyone in our lab became a giver of information, energy, and laughter. We made a great team. WOW!!

--Terry

I believe that without my belonging to the Learning Lab group, my PCMI experience would have been incomplete.  A sense of belonging is exactly what my other group members made me feel.  Our time together was far too short as was evident by so many conversations and questions that only began to scratch the surface of some very deep topics.  Luckily, our group's decision to create an online community will help these questions and conversations to better develop.  We were lucky enough to watch Deborah Ball in preparation, in action, and in reflection in her own teaching.  I only wish we could have had more time to work with her and her group.  Fortunately, we were able to see her first day lesson (the construction, the implementation, and the reflection) and could see how she sets certain social norms so very early on to reinforce her values.  As I reflect on my previous years of teaching I find that at times I may have posed open-ended questions, yet my classroom norms were not established and the lesson's objectives were not reached.  At other times, certain classroom norms were well in place, yet the problems I posed were not suited to meet my goals.  My time at PCMI (especially in the Learning Lab group) has helped me to see all the different parts that are necessary to ensure successful teaching practice.  Thank you to all of my mentors and colleagues who helped me answer many questions, and more importantly, ask so many more.

--Natan